#BookReview Her Every Fear by Peter Swanson @PeterSwanson3 Title: Her Every Fear

Author: Peter Swanson

Published by: William Morrow on Jan. 10, 2017

Genres: Mystery/Thriller

Pages: 384

Format: eBook, ARC

Source: William Morrow, Edelweiss

Book Rating: 8.5/10

Growing up, Kate Priddy was always a bit neurotic, experiencing momentary bouts of anxiety that exploded into full-blown panic attacks after an ex-boyfriend kidnapped her and nearly ended her life. When Corbin Dell, a distant cousin in Boston, suggests the two temporarily swap apartments, Kate, an art student in London, agrees, hoping that time away in a new place will help her overcome the recent wreckage of her life.

Soon after her arrival at Corbin’s grand apartment on Beacon Hill, Kate makes a shocking discovery: his next-door neighbor, a young woman named Audrey Marshall, has been murdered. When the police question her about Corbin, a shaken Kate has few answers, and many questions of her own—curiosity that intensifies when she meets Alan Cherney, a handsome, quiet tenant who lives across the courtyard, in the apartment facing Audrey’s. Alan saw Corbin surreptitiously come and go from Audrey’s place, yet he’s denied knowing her. Then, Kate runs into a tearful man claiming to be the dead woman’s old boyfriend, who insists Corbin did the deed the night that he left for London.

When she reaches out to her cousin, he proclaims his innocence and calms her nerves–until she comes across disturbing objects hidden in the apartment and accidentally learns that Corbin is not where he says he is. Could Corbin be a killer? What about Alan? Kate finds herself drawn to this appealing man who seems so sincere, yet she isn’t sure. Jet-lagged and emotionally unstable, her imagination full of dark images caused by the terror of her past, Kate can barely trust herself, so how could she take the chance on a stranger she’s just met?


Review:

Disturbingly creepy with rich characterization!

This story is predominantly set in Boston, Massachusetts and is told from multiple perspectives, including Kate, a recent victim of kidnapping who agrees to apartment swap with her cousin in hopes of a fresh start; Corbin, the intelligent, remote, secretive cousin; and Alan, the introverted neighbour with a fondness for people watching.

The writing is smooth and precise. The characters are varied, intriguing and dark. And the plot, although not exceptionally fast-paced, does a good job of creating suspense, fear and tension through a character driven storyline and an unconventional narration style in which the same story is retold from differing points of view.

Ultimately, this is a story about secrets, lies, deception, jealousy, manipulation, obsession and murder.

Overall, I have to say I really enjoyed this novel. It is definitely a well written, fascinating thriller that reminds us that sometimes there lies a complex, deranged, horrifying mind behind the normal facade.

 

This novel is due to be published on January 10, 2017.

Pick up a copy of this story from your favourite retailer or from the following Amazon links.

Amazon UKAmazon USAmazon CanadaIndigoKoboBook DepositoryB&N

 

 

Thank you to HarperCollins and Faber & Faber Ltd. for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

About Peter Swanson

Peter Swanson is the author of four novels: The Girl With a Clock For a Heart, an LA Times Book Award finalist; The Kind Worth Killing, winner of the New England Society Book Award, and finalist for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger; Her Every Fear, an NPR book of the year; and his most recent, All the Beautiful Lies. His books have been translated into 30 languages, and his stories, poetry, and features have appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction, The Atlantic Monthly, Measure, The Guardian, The Strand Magazine, and Yankee Magazine.

A graduate of Trinity College, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Emerson College, he lives in Somerville, Massachusetts with his wife and cat.

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